Over 100 nighttime runners race in Madbury

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By LIZ MARKHLEVSKAYAlmark@fosters.com

MADBURY — Under the moonlight Saturday, a line of headlamps was seen snaking through the trails of University of New Hampshire’s Kingman Farm, where more than 100 participants raced through five kilometers of snow.

The Moonlight Snowshoe Race on Saturday evening attracted participants of all skill levels, with teams coming from local towns and from out-of-state.

Jim Johnson, of Madison, finished up fastest in the race, coming in with the time of 23 minutes and 40 seconds. Northwood resident Kristina Folcik, 35, got the fastest women’s score, finishing the race 27 minutes and 57 seconds.

Folcik, who also participates in 50- and 100-mile races several times a year, has been snowshoeing for the past two years.

“It’s just a blast, everybody’s fun, it’s just a fun environment,” said Folcik.

She said the best part of the trail was the snaking pathways toward the middle of the course, in which “All you see is a sea of headlamps going across the way.”

Among participants in the Moonlight Snowshoe Race were Portsmouth Police Chief Stephen DuBois and Portsmouth Police Commission Chairman John Golumb.

“The conditions were perfect out there, the snow was beautiful,” said Golumb.

DuBois and Golumb have been snowshoeing for the past three years, and according to Dubois, snowshoeing is a good way to stay to stay active in the winter.

“It gives me a reason to keep in shape in the wintertime. It’s a heck of a workout for sure,” said DuBois, who also enjoys trail running.

He said that unlike running on trails, snowshoeing requires lifting up the legs more, having to trek through the squishy ground.

Mark Howard, 30, came with a group of experienced snowshoers all the way from Rhode Island, to try snowshoeing for the first time.

Howard said the trail for him was very difficult; he found himself having to zigzag through the curves of the trail and travel up steep hills, especially toward the end.

“I thought it would be hard, but it was harder than I though it was going to be,” said Howard.

He said he would like to try snowshoeing in the future, but only after he gets more in shape.

On Saturday, Howard was one of nine members of the team “Tuesday Night Turtles,” which traveled from Rhode Island to participate in the Moonlight Snowshoe Race at the Kingman Farm.

“There’s more snow up here,” said one of the teammates, John Peabody.

One of the members of Tuesday Night Turtles, Robert Jackman, got second place in the race, with the time of 24 minutes and 31 seconds.

Part of the proceeds from the race went to benefit the Cocheco Valley Humane Society (CVHS). Race Director Chris Dunn said $600 was donated to CVHS through the snowshoe race.